OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the antitumor activity and duration of activity of PNU-93914 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal carcinoma. II. Determine the objective tumor response rate and tumor response duration in patients treated with this drug. III. Determine the survival of patients treated with this drug. IV. Determine the safety profile of this drug in these patients. V. Determine the effect of this drug on the quality of life of these patients. VI. Determine the time to tumor response, time to tumor progression, and time to treatment failure in patients treated with this drug. VII. Evaluate the change in dysphagia score in patients treated with this drug.